Computer POST's and draws the BIOS screens very slowly

I have a desktop that refuses to boot into Windows. I used Hitachi DFT and the HD came back OK. I then used Memtest86+ and it took hours for the test to run. After 8+ hours it was up to test number 6. I aborted and ran Memtest86. It ran at basically the same speed. I aborted and went to look at the BIOS settings.

The computer is running slow at POST. It takes a long time for the keyboard to be recognized, etc. The BIOS settings takes time to be (slowly) drawn on the screen.

What could be causing such behavior?

EDIT: I gave back the computer a while back without ever discovering the cause so I'm closing the question.

ssvarc

Posted 2010-03-04T18:36:14.890

Reputation: 720

Answers

I gave back the computer without ever discovering the cause.

ssvarc

Posted 2010-03-04T18:36:14.890

Reputation: 720

Possible, cpu cache disabled in bios. System is crazy slow without cache. It typical for Pentiun 2 - 3 CPU

Mikhail Moskalev

Posted 2010-03-04T18:36:14.890

Reputation: 1 718

Nope. Cache was enabled. But +1 for the possible lead. – ssvarc – 2010-03-04T20:14:09.017

Generally when a BIOS runs slow like that it indicates hardware damage--probably a short circuit, bad capacitors, or a chip was fairly close to letting the smoke out due to overheating.

How many passes did MemTest86/MemTest86+ complete? It's designed to loop forever.

Broam

Posted 2010-03-04T18:36:14.890

Reputation: 3 831

So you're saying that the motherboard is bad? What tests are available to narrow this down?

Zero passes. It took 8+ hours to get to test number six and which point I aborted. – ssvarc – 2010-03-04T18:53:19.980

Check the motherboard's capacitors for bulges or leaks. – Broam – 2010-03-04T20:25:17.953

Did so and I don't see any bulges or leaks. I've reseated all connections as well. It just seems to me that if there was a issue with the motherboard the computer wouldn't run. I've seen computers with a slow boot due to USB conflicts, etc. MMV-RU gave a solid lead about the CPU cache, but I haven't heard of a computer running v-e-r-y slowly due to a motherboard issue. Any links where I could learn more about this? There is definitely lots that I don't know. – ssvarc – 2010-03-04T21:09:19.660

The "USB conflict" line gives me an idea. Strip the computer to the bare essentials--remove all the add-in cards, drives, etc, until it's basically CPU, minimal RAM, and oh, a floppy or something.

If it's still slow, switch the floppy for a CD. Test the RAM in another machine. Test the video card in another machine. Swap power supplies. Basically, isolate the problem.

If it's not slow, add items back in until it is. The last item added is either bad or has a conflict with an earlier item.

This is time-consuming. – Broam – 2010-03-05T14:19:19.347

Computer POST's and draws the BIOS screens very slowly - Motherboard issue?

Answers